Ogun Customs intercepts 3,041 bags of rice, 99 packs of marijuana

The Ogun State Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted 3, 041 bags of bags of foreign rice suspected to have been smuggled, and 99 packs of Indian hemp within two weeks.

The new Controller of the Command, Michael Agbara, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Idiroko.

Agbara, who was flanked by other officers at the Command, also said within the period under review, 295 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil, 221 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 24 smuggled secondhand vehicles and 28 bags of sugar were also seized.

While still talking about the command’s breakthrough in the last two weeks, he added that three bales of secondhand clothes were also intercepted.

He said four suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling of various prohibited items, noting that one of them has been charged to court.

Agbara, who assumed leadership at the Command on April 17, 2018 said the seizures were made in its areas of coverage in Abeokuta and Idiroko axis.

He said that he had met critical stakeholders in the state and also at the Republic of Benin towards stemming the tide of smuggling activities in the Command.

He said, “I have met with critical stakeholders, including colleagues at the neighbouring Republic of Benin, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, and all heads of the sister agencies at the Idiroko border.”

Agbara said he had reduced the number of Customs checkpoints on the Sango-Idiroko Road, to facilitate trade for compliant traders.

He said, “The operatives that were moved from the checkpoints have been deployed to the routes that the smugglers use.”